The Canopy of Prayer . . . Place of Agreement

By: Jerry Bowers, PrayCal.org
Like a Wedding Canopy of Agreement, so the Church comes together in Prayer.

The Lord told me that the Canopy of Prayer has to do with creating a place of Agreement for His Covering in the State and Nation. He told me to look up the word “Propitiation.” This word in the New Testament means “Atonement or Mercy Seat.” It points back to the Old Testament Tabernacle. God told Moses to “Build a Tabernacle that he might dwell among them.” (Ex 25:8) This tabernacle was a place where “covenant” took place between God and man.

In the most holy place on top of the ark of the covenant was a mercy seat. The word for mercy seat Kaphar (2435) means “covering.” The Tabernacle means “Canopy” or covering. The daily sacrifices in this Old Testament model pointed to the Lamb of God who would be their “Covering” to cover their sins. The tabernacle (canopy) was a place of agreement where man could enter into covenant so God’s covering of mercy could be put in place over them.

In the New Testament this idea of a mercy seat covering is continued with the use of the word “Propitiation.” It is used three times in the New Testament. It is used in Romans 3:25; I John 2:2; 4:10. It literally means that Christ has become our Mercy Seat or covering. But there is more! He desires that His Mercy Covering (Canopy) to be extended by faith over the whole world. Romans 3:25 says His covering demonstrates His righteousness. I John 2:2 tells us He is not only the covering of mercy for our sins, but also for the sins of the “whole world.”

When we intercede for the lost and for our state we are inviting God to extend His mercy seat covering over all the inhabitants in a covenant agreement for him to demonstrate His righteousness. I John 4:10 tells us that this covering demonstrates God’s Love. He is our Propitiation. He is our “Mercy Seat Canopy” over the places that we proclaim His name through covenant agreement. This is what is met in Matthew 18:19, 20; “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My father in Heaven.. Where they are gathered in my name, I will dwell in their midst.” Covenant agreement brings about a canopy of God’s Mercy Seat. The word “agree” in verse 19 is the word “Sumphoneo” which means “to stipulate by compact.” It is a covenant term.

If we come into covenant agreement for Christ’s Kingdom to reign in our midst through prayer, we are creating a Tabernacle (Canopy of Mercy) for Him to come dwell in our midst! Like in the Old Testament God is asking, “Build a Tabernacle that I may dwell in your midst.” Only this time it is not a literal tent, but it is still a place where “Covenant” takes place so that a covering of God’s Mercy may be extended over the people. Under this kind of agreement with God, He says in verse 18 of Matthew chapter 18, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Under this canopy heaven comes down and impacts earth. He is still saying to His Moses today, “If you build it, I will come.” When God’s people stand together in covenant agreement inviting Him to come reign and dwell in their midst, He extends a Canopy of His Mercy Seat Covering over them and the world where they live!

The Cross of Christ is the most visible demonstration of God’s Mercy in our midst. It reminds us of the basis of our redemption – God’s Mercy Covering! As we pray God’s Mercy Seat Covering (Canopy) over our state we are asking for the mercy he demonstrated on the cross to cover our sins and for His love to transform us and give us a greater knowledge of Him. God describes in Hebrews 8:10-12 that “all will know Him” because of His Mercy which will be revealed in the place of covenant!

The cross then is the most powerful symbol of His Mercy Covering or Atonement, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God. (I Cor. 1:18) This end time Canopy of God’s Mercy is anchored by cords of prayer to the cross!